Wednesday, 17 October 2012

One of my first memories is of paintings with my Dad at 2 when my
Mum was in hospital giving birth to my sister. My Dad taught me how to draw, and paint, and took me to all of the
shows, and museums worth seeing. Our house was filled with artist friends,
great books, and my Dad's garage where he welded giant sculptures. Art was all
around me; I loved it from the beginning.

As a child art was something that I could loose myself in, something
that I was good at, it also represented family.

Other artists that inspire you? - Do they change overtime/ year to
year?

I'm inspired by many different artists, from Matisse, Monet, Rodin, Rembrandt,
Ines, to Warhol, Basquiat, and Bacon and living artists such as Dumas, Doig,

Hockney, and photographers Bill Henson, and Nan Goldin. Basically
I'm attracted to figurative work. People are what most interest me.

Where do you get your inspiration for each work?

I get my inspiration from Life! Books, magazines, people, design,
furniture, The urban landscape, nature, conversations, films, put it into
a big mixing pot, and let something happen on the canvas!

Where do you paint and what is your ideal routine/ daytime… or night
owl

Daytime

How did you arrive at the title of this current show?

I called the show Venus and Me, because, my exhibition is about my
relationship to Venus and everything that she represents, love, beauty, nature,
sexuality, and sensuality.

What is your painting process; paint application and colour seem to
be a key process, can you tell us about this?

Colour is really important to me. I pick up ideas everywhere. I use
a lot of different materials to make the paint surfaces to bounce off each
other, like enamel, against a matt, or built up oil paint. There isn't a real
process as to how I go about it. What works stays, what doesn't is brutally
painted over, hence the layered look, which people have commented on, which is
more about me changing gears, and making different decisions in my work.

"Focusing on the desire, sensuality and beauty of
the female nude I've created a series of mixed media paintings and drawings.
I'm interested in my female subjects as a whole. Their dreams, aspirations, and
desires, this enables me to rip beneath their surface image, and express on
canvas how I see them, as well as providing a medium through which to express
my own sexuality. The women emerge from a lush terrain. Languid visions from a
sensual Utopia. Inspired by the goddess Venus and the powerful metaphors of
love, beauty, and nature ‘Venus & Me’ explores the collective thread of
women's secret desires".Mia Oatley, 2012

Richard Martin Art

About

Richard Martin Art currently represents a select group of emerging, mid career and established artists specialising in contemporary paintings and sculpture. Here we will showcases their works and other prominent investment artists.